Men's college soccer is entering the home stretch, with the NCAA Round of 16 on Sunday reducing the field to eight teams still in contention for the NCAA College Cup Dec. 10-12. Favorites continued to carry most matchups, with seven of the eight seeded teams reaching the quarterfinals.
Here's what happened on Sunday, setting up the quarterfinals to take place next weekend:
Michigan 3, South Carolina 1
The day's first game produced the only nominal upset, with 10th-seeded Michigan winning at No. 7 South Carolina. Senior forward Justin Meram scored twice to run his season total to 15, and freshman Soony Saad netted his 19th goal of the year as the Wolverines won their eighth consecutive game since losing to then-top-ranked Akron 7-1 on Oct. 19. Michigan scored three goals in a 17-minute span in the second half to take control of the game with the help of a South Carolina red card shortly after the opening goal.
UNC 1, Michigan State 1, 2 OT (UNC wins 5-4 on PKs)
For the second straight round, UNC survived a shootout to advance, this time leaving it late by tying the game with only nine seconds on the clock. Dynamo Academy forward Alex Dixon (Humble Atascocita) had a fourth-minute breakaway chance but could not convert, and Michigan State took the lead in the second half when Cyrus Saydee converted from inside the penalty area. UNC outshot Michigan State 31-11 for the match and finally tied the game with nine seconds remaining when sophomore substitute Enzo Martinez scored from a cleared corner kick. After goalkeeper Scott Goodwin made one save in the shootout, Martinez was the man of the hour again, converting the final shot to send the Tar Heels to the quarterfinals. Dixon played 84 of the 110 minutes and had four shots, two on goal.
Akron 2, Indiana 1 (highlights)
Last year's losing finalist, Akron, extended its home unbeaten streak to 38 games and its home winning streak to 27 games with two goals early in the second half to down Indiana 2-1. Junior midfielder Michael Nanchoff broke the deadlock when he got a return pass from Darren Mattocks at the top of the penalty area and slotted a left-footed shot inside the right-hand post. Mattocks, a freshman, then capitalized on a defensive error to score his 18th goal of the year and put Akron up 2-0. Andy Adlard pulled a late goal back for Indiana, but Akron held on to win its six straight game since its only loss of the year at Cleveland State on Oct. 30.
Cal 2, Brown 0
Goalkeeper David Bingham and center back A.J. Soares, both strong MLS prospects, helped Cal post its eighth shutout of the year and win its sixth straight game to reach the quarterfinals for the second time in six years. Sophomore John Fitzpatrick headed in the opening goal from a Davis Paul corner kick in the first half, and a Paul cross led to an own goal in the second half for the Golden Bears. Bingham made nine saves in goal.
Maryland 1, Penn State 0
A full volley from sophomore Taylor Kemp from the top of the penalty area with 2:02 remaining lifted No. 2 Maryland back into the quarterfinals on Sunday. Maryland fired 21 shots on the day to Penn State's 10, but Kemp's was the only one to hit the target, and it was enough for the win. Maryland goalkeeper Zac MacMath made three stops as the Terps held Penn State forward Corey Hertzog and the Nittany Lions scoreless. Maryland has now won 15 straight games since losing to North Carolina on Sept. 24.
Louisville 2, Ohio State 1
Junior midfielder Austin Berry headed in a Nick DeLeon cross in the 63rd minute to break a 1-1 tie and lift top-ranked and unbeaten Louisville into the quarterfinals. Charlie Campbell had given Louisville an early lead, with Ohio State's Austin McAnena tying the game early in the second half.
SMU 1, William & Mary 0
Dynamo Academy midfielder Josue Soto scored the only goal of the game in the 11th minute to lift No. 5 SMU over 12th-seeded William & Mary. Colorado Rapids freshman Robbie Derschang started the play with a steal for SMU, with Ian Kalis teeing up Soto in the box, and the senior fired a shot off the inside of the right post. William & Mary had two late chances to tie the game, hitting the crossbar in the 81st minute and seeing a goal disallowed for offside in the final minute. Andrew McAdams, the star of William & Mary's shootout win over UMBC, made eight saves for the Tribe, who were outshot 18-10.
UCLA 2, Dartmouth 1, 2 OT (highlights)
As seems to be the norm in this tournament, the most dramatic finish was saved for last, with UCLA scoring the game-winning goal with eight seconds remaining in the second overtime to down upstart Dartmouth. A long throw-in from Joe Sofia (LA Galaxy) was flicked over goalkeeper Lyman Missimer (The Woodlands) to the back post, where midfielder Eder Arreola tapped in to break Big Green hearts. Arreola also scored UCLA's first goal, with an assist from Reed Williams (LA Galaxy), but Dartmouth equalized in the 60th minute on a goal from Bryan Giudicelli. Missimer made four saves as UCLA held a 20-18 shot advantage.
Quarterfinal Schedule - December 3-4
Friday 6 p.m. CT North Carolina vs. SMU
Saturday noon CT Maryland vs. Michigan
Saturday 3 p.m. CT Akron vs. Cal
Saturday 7 p.m. CT Louisville vs. UCLA
